By Amber Augustin

ambera@newsroom.byu.edu

BYU students make reading a newspaper and filling out employment forms easier for a portion of the 21,000 Utah County residents who struggle with illiteracy.

Tutors of Project Read, Provo's literacy project, have aided in teaching basic reading and writing skills to adults in the area since the 1986.

The project started out as a program to teach English as a second language, but many of the students had difficulty with their basic reading and writing skills.

"Educators in the area assessed the situation and decided to begin a basic literacy project," said Project Read Director Lori Bigelow.

The project supports the tutoring of adults ages 16 and older due to the increasing rate of illiterate adults in Utah County.

Bigelow said that although the number of illiterate residents in Utah County seems high, it is slightly higher than the national average.

"It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults have difficulty with basic reading skills," Bigelow said.

Bigelow is currently working towards a master's degree in psychology at BYU, and feels that being project director relates to her area of expertise because it is a human service organization.

Although Bigelow is a paid employee, the majority of tutors are volunteers.

An estimated 60 percent of project volunteers are BYU students who give unpaid service hours to this cause.

"This is a great program; it makes a difference in the lives of the students," said Kelly Egan, 20, from Sandy, Salt Lake County, majoring in geography.

Egan, who found out about the program by means of an email message, said she feels that the adult students who learn literacy skills become more socially accepted.

"Students who read better feel that they are on the same social level as the rest of society. It really boosts confidence," Egan said.

Project Read students said they agreed.

"Learning to read has changed my life more than I thought was possible. I now have a better job and can provide for my family. Most importantly, my children have a lot more respect for me," said a Project Read student.

Students spend a minimum of two 1.5 hour sessions each week with an assigned tutor.

The project serves an average of 100 students each year, only two percent of those in Utah County who need help.

Bigelow said she believes this is because people are unaware of the project or are scared to seek help.

Project Read is located in the Provo Library and tutoring sessions are free to the public.

The project is sponsored by grants and state and federal funding.



Copyright Brigham Young University 5 Jul 2000